Spanish speaking workshop is free to caregivers, family members

Albuquerque, NM – The Alzheimer’s Association, NM Chapter, in collaboration with the Southern Area Health Education Center (SoAHEC), is announcing a new session of the free caregiver workshop for Spanish-speaking and bilingual families facing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in the Deming area.

“Cuidando con Respeto” is a free course presented in Spanish for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It provides the same helpful information as the popular Savvy Caregiver Program but is designed for Spanish-speaking and bilingual families and caregivers. The workshop will provide a basic understanding of the necessary skills and attitudes to manage the needs and challenges of an individual with Alzheimer’s disease.

But “Cuidando Con Respeto” is more than just a Spanish-language Savvy Caregiver. It is a complete cultural translation of the Savvy program, with a sensitivity to the values and customs of Spanish-speaking families in New Mexico.

“Cuidando con Respeto” is presented as an eight-hour workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10 at the Deming Senior Center, 800 S. Granite St. To register or for more information, please call 575-546-8823 or contact Lori at 575-646-4888 or Ana Luisa at 575-646-3061. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Class size is limited and they do fill up quickly. Call now to register. Participants of the Savvy Caregiver Program may be reimbursed for the cost of having others tend to their loved one while they attend the classes.

The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is growing – and growing fast. Today, 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 200,000 under the age of 65. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US, and nearly two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s disease – 3.3 million – are women. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia*.

Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s dementia. By 2050, someone in the United States will develop Alzheimer’s dementia every 33 seconds. By that same year, as many as 16 million will have the disease.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $259 billion in 2017, increasing to $1.1 trillion by mid-century.

Alzheimer’s takes a devastating toll – not just on those with the disease, but on entire families. In our own state, 38,000 New Mexicans are suffering from Alzheimer’s. They are cared for by 106,000 unpaid caregivers, many of whom are members of their own families.